20. Configuration: Minimum Requirements

To run DJ Console, Hercules requires ( a Pentium II 400MHz processor (700MHz recommended) and 64 MB RAM (128 MB recommended) for Windows 98SE, Millennium, 2000 or XP, a graphics card that offers an 800X600, 16-bit color resolution and 100 MB of available hard disk memory.

As usual, you will need a lot more if you want to avoid problems when using it for music purposes. It is hard to give cut-and-dried figures here, because the system that suits you obviously depends on what you use it for.

If, for instance, you use CD Audios directly with OTS CD, you will need two powerful CD-ROM drives. For the rest, you should have a monitor with at least 1024x768 pixels and a minimum of 16 bits, plus 256 MB of working memory, and you'll probably be restricted if your processors run under 1 GHz.

Everything depends on the use and the importance you give to fail-safe operation. If you just want a bit of fun, you can make do with less, but for serious business - in front of an audience - you can't be too careful...

In DJ D'Jill's Opinion

To confirm our impressions, we asked D'Jill, a professional DJ, to tell us what he thought after a quick tryout of the DJ Console.

"It seems well designed: it has the same functions as a Denon or a Numark Axis with direct track search. Everything is there, with the pitch bend to perfect the mix you are doing. All the basics for mixing are there."

Is is convenient to handle?

"Handling is definitely simple. It's a bit small, but that's understandable. It's very maneuverable and easy to carry. It makes you think of a DAT player and the shoulder strap is very convenient. You'd never think it was a mixing console, it could be a transistor or anything, so you can go out and about with it without any trouble.

"Otherwise, handling it is no more complicated than an ordinary CD player. Even a novice DJ or a totally ignorant amateur can get the hang of it. However, the software has to be exactly right! This is the snag with this sort of product: You have to be able to see the features straight away. A DJ starting out wants things easy, he wants to get what he sees! The mike input is great, but it's a pity you can't correct its frequencies."